THURSDAY:
CRYSTAL PALACE V EVERTON
Crystal Palace got a much needed win last weekend against Brentford and I think having both Olise and Eze on the pitch together made a huge difference.
Roy Hodgson will definitely make changes for this one, but I think he'll start both Eze and Olise as he'll want his side to have a good crack at this competition.
They have struggled in the league recently and a win in this cup tie could give them the confidence to kickstart their season.
Everton won this fixture in the Premier League 3-2 back in November and it was their last result before their points deduction.
I think Sean Dyche will field a strong team here as he'll want his side to take this competition seriously. This is because it will give them the confidence to take into the Premier League and their fight to stay up.
Because of this I think they'll edge this one.
PREDICTION: 1-2
FRIDAY:
BRENTFORD V WOLVES
Brentford come into this cup tie off the back of five straight defeats in the Premier League and they could really do with a win to reinstall some much needed confidence into their season.
The Bees looked all over the place defensively when Wolves came to town last week with Nathan Collins in particular having an absolute shocker.
Wolves will definitely look to exploit them again in this one as they're in side in great form and hopefully looking to go far in this competition.
They're pushing for a top 10 finish in the Premier League and for them to have that alongside a good cup run would be a very good season for them.
They'll again look to force Brentford into mistakes like they did last week but I don't see them winning as handsomely as they did.
I think they'll win again, but I think Brentford will put up more of a fight.
PREDICTION: 1-2
FULHAM V ROTHERHAM
Fulham reached the Quarter Finals of this competition last season and will look to have another go at this competition again this season.
They've got nothing to really play for in the Premier League as they're unlikely to go down or push for a top half finish. Because of that, I think they'll look to go on another cup run.
Rotherham are rock bottom of the Championship and will see this tie as one to reinstall some much needed confidence into their season.
But I don't see them doing that as I think Fulham will be too strong for them no matter how many changes they make.
PREDICTION: 3-0
TOTTENHAM V BURNLEY
Spurs will have to play a strong team here because of the amount of players they have out injured and also, Ange Postecoglou will probably want his side win this competition.
January could be a tough month for Spurs as they'll be without Heung Min Son who is at the Asian Cup with South Korea and his absence is a massive blow for them.
Burnley will be looking to use the FA Cup as a confidence builder so they can carry the momentum with them into their relegation battle in the Premier League.
They could use Spurs' current injury crisis and them not having Son around to their advantage as they'll know that Spurs won't be at their strongest.
But Spurs still have other quality players in their attack like Richarlison who has finally found some form in a Spurs shirt. I think he'll step up in Son's absence here and win the game for Spurs.
PREDICTION: 3-1
SATURDAY:
SUNDERLAND V NEWCASTLE
These two have been looking forward to this fixture for nearly eight years back when both of them were in the Premier League.
They've both been in some journey since then with Sunderland having spent four years in League One before returning to the Championship, and Newcastle having a season in the Championship before making their long awaited return to the Champions League this season.
Sunderland had a good record against Newcastle prior to the Magpies' relegation from the Premier League in 2016 winning six of their previous 7 games against them. This one will definitely be more challenging though as they're obviously in a league below.
Newcastle have struggled on the road this season and still have a host of players out injured. But they could have most of their injured players back later this month which is a much needed boost.
Given their current injury crisis, I think Eddie Howe will field a strong team here and I think his side will book their place in the next round.
PREDICTION: 0-2
GILLINGHAM V SHEFFIELD UNITED
Gillingham are having a very good season in League 2 as they sit just one point outside the play offs in 10th. This time last year they were bottom of the football league which is some improvement. But they've only scored just 21 goals.
Sheffield United surprised everyone in reaching the semi finals last season and especially as they were a Championship side. They could do with going on another run like that this season as they need to reinstall some confidence into their Premier League season.
Both sides have had the same problem this season in scoring goals and are both the lowest scorers in their domestic divisions.
Because of that I don't expect this one to be a goal fest. But I do think the Blades will take the win though.
PREDICTION: 0-2
QPR V BOURNEMOUTH
2023 was an absolute rotten year for QPR both on and off the pitch and they'll be hoping that 2024 will be a more positive year.
The Hoops are still in the bottom three of the Championship and this cup tie could give them the distraction they need. They've got nothing to lose in this game and a surprise win from them could give them the confidence to restart their season and push themselves out of trouble.
But I really don't see as Bournemouth are one of the form teams in the Premier League and are surely looking to go on a cup run.
Andoni Iraola will make changes in this one with it being a cup tie against a lower league opposition. But I think his side will have more than enough quality to reach the next round.
PREDICTION: 0-3
STOKE V BRIGHTON
Stoke have been an underwhelming side since they've been in the Championship and they're having yet another underwhelming season this season.
New boss Steven Schumacher has made quite a solid start as manager winning 1 and drawing 3 of his opening four games which has somewhat steadied the ship.
Brighton went all the way to the semi finals of this competition last season and were unlucky to go out to Man United on penalties.
Going on another cup run like that this season will more challenging and especially when they resume their Europa League campaign next month, where the games will again come in thick and fast.
But I think they'll get the win here as I think their attacking quality will be too much for Stoke who don't score any themselves.
PREDICTION: 0-3
CHELSEA V PRESTON
2023 was a rotten year for Chelsea and they'll definitely be hoping that 2024 will be a much better year for them. A good cup run would certainly be a good start to that.
The blues have a decent record in this competition and Mauricio Pochettino will want his side to go far in it so they have some confidence and momentum to take with them into the Premier League.
Preston were flying at the start of the season but recently their form has fallen off a cliff after just one win in five league games. They're now 14th in the Championship after being in touching distance of the play off not that long ago.
Chelsea will probably make wholesale changes here given how big their squad is and the fact that Pochettino will want to give some of the youngsters a chance. But they should still have enough to beat Preston.
PREDICTION: 3-0
MIDDLESBROUGH V ASTON VILLA
Middlesbrough already have a Carabao Cup semi final to look forward to when they face Chelsea on Tuesday. But Michael Carrick's side will have their focus on this one first.
Aston Villa are flying in the Premier League this season and they'll surely be looking to go far in this competition. Unai Emery mentioned that he would like to win a trophy with Villa when he first arrived at the club and the FA Cup is something that they have a good chance of winning.
Villa will probably make changes this one as Emery will want to give other players on opportunity. But I still think they'll have more than enough to win this cup tie.
PREDICTION: 0-2
SUNDAY:
LUTON V BOLTON
Luton would've been underdogs in this game had it been played 10 years ago where they were a non league club and Bolton were in the Championship. How the tables have turned ever since.
Premier League survival is of course the main aim for Luton this season, but a good cup run could give them the momentum they need to stay up.
Bolton have promotion from League One in their sights this season and it's good to finally see them doing well again after a tough few years, where they went into administration and nearly went out of business.
They play some good football under Ian Evatt who has rebuilt the club ever since he arrived back in 2020 when they were in League Two. They could have a good go at Luton in this one.
Rob Edwards will make changes to his Hatters side as his side will have Premier League survival on their mind. Because of that and how Bolton are likely to play, I can see the Trotters force a replay here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
MAN CITY V HUDDERSFIELD
Man City boss Pep Guardiola always plays a strong team in the cup competitions no matter what league their opponent is in. He will make changes to his team as he'll want to give other players an opportunity but I still see him fielding a strong team here.
Kevin De Bruyne will definitely play after returning to subs bench against Sheffield United last weekend. But he'll probably only get a few minutes of game time having just returned from a long injury lay off. His return is a massive boost for City.
Huddersfield are again fighting to avoid relegation from the Championship this season with the club only three points outside the relegation zone in 21st.
Darren Moor will want his side to put in a good showing here so they can have some confidence to take into their league games in an attempt to get some points on the board.
But I don't see that happening as I think City will be too strong for them.
PREDICTION: 4-0
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V BLACKPOOL
Nottingham Forest have made a good start under Nuno Espirito Santo who has won two of his opening three games in charge.
Forest will probably make changes for this game with it being a cup tie but I hope they don't make too many. They did that when they faced Blackpool at this stage last season and they got hammered 4-1.
Blackpool have a different manager in charge this time round in Neil Critchley who is having a challenging second spell in charge of the club. They're currently 8th in League One after being seen by many as one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season.
The Tangerines will fancy their chances of causing an upset after doing one over Forest last season.
But with Forest being at home where they have had a decent record, I think they'll have enough to reach the next round.
PREDICTION: 2-0
WEST HAM V BRISTOL CITY
After winning the Europa Conference League last season, David Moyes will surely be looking to take West Ham far in a cup competition and they have the chance to do that this season. Especially with the form they've been in this season.
He took Everton to the final in 2009 where they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea and the job he did at Everton is similar to the one he's done at West Ham.
Bristol City have made a mixed start under Liam Manning who was doing a brilliant job at Oxford prior to arriving at Ashton Gate in November.
The Robins will look to make it difficult for the Hammers are they're a side that are capable of staying in games.
West Ham will probably make changes, but I think they'll have enough in them to reach the next round.
PREDICTION: 2-0
ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL
These two are both fighting for the Premier League title this season and will be among the favourites to win this competition. The winner here could potentially go on to win it.
Since the 1-1 draw at Anfield before Christmas, Liverpool have replaced Arsenal at the top of the league with Arsenal having suffered back to back defeats whilst Liverpool picked up back to back wins.
This cup tie could be a good distraction for Arsenal as it could give them the confidence to get their season back on track after a short blip.
January could be a tough month for Liverpool with Salah being away at AFCON and without him, you wonder who will step up on the goals front.
Diogo Jota is probably the most likely player to do that as he's the more proven goal scorer. Nunez can be frustrating at times with the amount of chances he misses whilst both Gakpo and Diaz need to contribute a bit more.
Both teams will field strong teams here but I do think they'll give some of their fringe players a chance. Arsenal will probably give chances to the likes of Ramsdale and Smith-Rowe whilst Liverpool will give chances to players like Elliot and maybe young Ben Doak.
Arsenal have been strong at home this season like they were for most of last season and I think they'll come out on top here because of that.
PREDICTION: 2-1
MONDAY:
WIGAN V MAN UNITED
Wigan have been through a lot since winning the FA Cup in 2013 and this cup tie will hopefully give something back to the supporters who have been with them through these tough times.
They're having a steady season in League 1 this season under Shaun Maloney and had it not been for their points deduction, they would be in the top half.
The FA Cup is Man United's last chance to end the season with a trophy as they're out of the Carabao Cup, out of Europe altogether and have no chance of challenging for the Premier League title. It could even save Erik Ten Hag's job given the the pressure he is under.
He needs a response from his team here after their abysmal showing at Nottingham Forest last weekend and I expect him to make some changes here so he can give other players a chance.
I don't think United will play well here given the nature of most of their performances this season. But I do think they'll have more than enough to reach the next round.
PREDICTION: 0-2
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